Chapter 4

“I had enough! No more thinking about that girl. It is sooo not worth my time.”

Heechul has had enough just sitting down and thinking about the girl he just met earlier today. For him, it isn’t worth it. Even if he wants to befriend her, chances are, she would reject him.

“Why does it seem like I’m in love with her? All I want is to befriend her, and help be like a real lady. Someone who would make guys; some, if not all, turn heads. Why does she seem to treat me like an enemy? She doesn’t even know me!?”

And there goes his determination to stop thinking about her.

He decided to take a walk.

“At the very least, it might help me take things off my mind.”

He gathered his keys, cash, credit, and whatever he usually needs, and headed out for some fresh air, and perhaps some shopping.

After all, shopping helps to release stress.

So off he went, aimless.

#

“I need some fresh air.”

She decided to call her roommates.

“Yah Yunhee ah…”
“Waeyo? I’m with Donghae oppa. Is there anything wrong?”
“Urm… Aneyo. Go ahead and have fun. I’ll see you at the dorm tonight.”
“Orh. Annyeong.”

“Yeorin ah… Give me some time alone please.”
“You sound distressed. You need to talk?”
“No, its ok. I just need some time alone. Thanks.”

So both her roommates aren’t free.
So how now, brown cow?

“I can just go out on my own. I’m used to this anyway.”

#
As he exits the library, the scene replayed in his mind.

“Why is hyung so lucky?”

“Why is hyung better looking than me? Aren’t the younger ones almost always supposed to look better? Why am I exceptional? Is it because of my geeky specs? I need a major makeover.”

He flipped out his cell phone and dialed a number.

“Hyung! It’s Jaejin. I need help. I need a makeover.”

#

He was walking around when his phone rang.

He answered and a smile started forming on his face.

“No problem! Where do you want to meet? I need to clear my mind! You called me at the right time!! THANK YOU SO MUCH JINNIE!!”

And he weaved a sigh after he ended his call.

“Phew~ Finally some excitement in my life.”

And he walks on, happily thinking of what he does best.

#

“I think we need a break.”

Sungmin looked into Eunjung’s eyes for assurance. He wasn’t sure of what he just heard. For all he knows, he could very well be dreaming.

But Eunjung stood there, firm, without a slight trace of happiness. And Sungmin understood. She had chosen Minhwan, but he wasn’t satisfied.

“So you’ve made up your mind? But why? Even if it isn’t me, I just need a reason. And perhaps, I can change for the better. If not for you, for other girls.”

“Give me some time. Oppa, komawo.” And she walked off.

Tears flowed, uncontrollably. Sungmin has been a huge part of her college life. She just hopes she knows what she’s doing. And while she’s at it, she hopes she doesn’t get into depression.

#

“Maybe I should try on some makeup. Oppa and Hongki has been pestering for years already. Then, I can give them a surprise. And give Yunhee and Eunjung a surprise as well.”

She smiled herself silly.

“I may not be as girly like them. But deep down inside, I’m still a girl. I want to look pretty. I want to be loved like them too. Eunjung has been giving me those lectures since day one. I should just show her what I’ve got!”

“But wait. What DO I have?”

So on she went to a nearby mall. And opps…

She knocked into some tall lady.

Or was it a guy??

#

“Chosunghaeyo…”
“Mianhe”

“No I’m ok.”
“Gwaenchanha.”

Both looked up, and got a shock!

“You again? Just when I wanted to have a peaceful walk, you just have to appear out of nowhere!” and off she went.

“Hyung, you know her?”

“Err… Sort of. We met earlier this morning.”

“Hey! Are you in serious need for a makeover now? Why not we follow her? I’ll help you with the makeover some other time alright?”

“Whatever you say, hyung.”

“Ok we can! Let’s go!”

Jaejin shook his head, not knowing what to say about his brother’s good friend.

“Yah Jaejin ah! Palli!”
“Neh hyung.”

#

Alright. Where should I start? There are so many make up counters. And perfume counters and god knows what else.

This isn’t my first time at the mall but why do I feel so awkward?

“Agasshi... Do you need any help? Perhaps you would like to try our new range of foundation? Our brand has just developed a new range of foundation, in cream form. A lot of our customers who have tried love it, would you like to try? There’s also a 30% discount going on at the store.”

“No it’s ok. I don’t really use make up. I’m just looking around. If I need help I’ll find you. Thanks anyway,” and she gave a smile.

Yeorin felt so out of place, in a place where girls who normally squeal and go crazy at the sight of all the makeup, with a discount for that matter. But Yeorin felt otherwise. All the makeup and discounts did not appeal to her at all.

But she was determined, dead set that she wants to give it a go.

Oppa always says that I should never give up until I try. So I shouldn’t. AHH... I miss oppa at times like this. Hongki too. Maybe I should give them a call.

#

“Yeoboseyo... Yah Yeorin ah... Waeyo? Gwaenchanha?”
“Oppa...I’m ok. Don’t worry. Bogoshipda ya oppa. Oppa gwaenchanha? Hongki doo?”
“We’re both doing fine. Hongki always whines that he misses you too. You wanna talk to him? He just came home.”
“Jinjja? Can I? Thanks oppa. Saranghae.”

“NOONA!!!!!! YEORIN NOONA! NOONA NOONA NOONA!!”
“OMO Hongki yah! I’m not deaf yet. No need to shout. I can hear you perfectly.”

”Noona! Bogoshipeo. When are you coming home? Can I visit you? Do you have a boyfriend already? My friends always brag that their noonas get attached after entering college. So have you? Have you? Omo noona! I bought a new computer game. And I found cheat codes. HAHAHAHA. Noona, I’m smart eh?”

Hongki asked a string of questions to his favourite noona. And like usual, Yeorin would answer his every question, as much as she could.

“Hongki yah. Noona misses you too. But I can't go home as yet. Perhaps after my exams, alright? And nope. I’m still single. You better not waste your time on those games araseo? Aren’t your exams around the corner?”

“Ahh noona! Manni manni bogoshipdago! Oppa isn’t nice to me! He doesn’t let me sleep late. Noona! I really really miss you! Jinjja!”
“Araseo Hongki yah. I miss you and oppa a lot too. I miss having you around to hug when I’m feeling down.”
“Noona gwaenchanha? Uljima... Noona uljima... Don’t cry alright? I’ll talk to you some other time. Oppa is glaring at me. Noona saranghae!”

The siblings ended their call. Yeorin didn’t manage to hold it in. Her tears just flowed. She misses her brothers so much. Their parents passed away when she was still in high school. Oppa had to work as he studied in college to ensure she and Hongki never go hungry.

The three siblings were so close. They depended on each other for moral support. Yeorin almost rejected her college offer because it wouldn’t allow her to stay with her brothers. But her oppa pushed her and persuaded her to go and not give up on the chance.

Growing up with her two brothers, with both parents busy working all the time, Yeorin started dressing like them too. She plays what her brothers played, wears what they wore and no one ever cared.

The tears kept flowing, and she let them. She was standing at a quiet corner in the mall. She was sure no one saw her. But she was wrong.

Two guys were watching her, one more intensely than the other.

#

Omo! She’s crying. I wonder who she was talking to. I guess she isn’t so metal hearted after all. She is just like an ordinary girl, a girl with emotions.

“Hyung. Are we doing that makeover or not? If we aren’t I want to go back. I still have some assignments halfway done.”

“Jaejinnie ah. Next time ok?” and he gave the boy an apologetic look.

I just found myself a bigger mission.
Kim Heechul never fails...